Staying sane with PGP

[MrsEG]

Hi ladies

I’m currently nearly 29 weeks pregnant with twins. I’ve a very large bump (even for multiples!) and was confirmed as having PGP quite early on.

Initially it was just that ‘kicked in the foof’ feeling but as it’s progressed I’ve found it more and more immobilising. It takes me so long to even just get out of bed; I can’t walk down the landing without gripping walls/doors. It’s extremely painful. I tend to loosen up a little as the day goes on but the smallest amount of activity aggregates it.

Pre-pregnancy I was really very active and in all honesty I’m at a point now where the PGP is getting me down a bit. I do pregnancy yoga which is wonderful but other than this, I do absolutely nothing. Some days when I work from home I don’t even leave the house. Can’t walk the dog longer than 15 mins and I can’t do it on my own (can’t bend down to pick up the 💩!).

I won’t go full term with twins, but the idea of another 8 weeks of this (with it potentially getting worse still) gets me down - anyone who is experiencing it or has been through it before, was there anything that helped you? I have physio, support belts, birthing balls etc and I do my exercises. Willing to give anything a go at this point! Also, did your PGP go away when baby arrived?

[ThomasinaandSeptimus]

I suffered terribly from 28 weeks in my first pregnancy after a fall and it felt like some kind of prison sentence. I carried on working from my bedroom sat on my birthing ball but could barely manage up and downstairs to make tea, it was a terrible shock to me so you have my deepest sympathy!

Things that helped were booking in friends to take me out when DH was working, and making the most of evenings - going for dinner, to the cinema. I lasted working for another 10 weeks then went into labour a week before my due date just after finishing work.

Nothing much helped - I had a belt, and some physio exercises, and I could weight bear after a few weeks (couldn’t immediately after fall) but could only shuffle.

The good news is it went away upon delivery (c section for other reasons). I had a couple of flare ups when my periods returned - pelvis used to feel unstable and sore before period - but that settled within 6 weeks. With subsequent pregnancies it was much more manageable - some pain from day 1 (knew before I took tests!) but never needed crutches and got by with limiting walking and lifting. Since last pregnancy I’ve only had the occasional flare up and actually taken up running with no issues!

So sorry you are suffering but it is not forever and hopefully you will feel so much better after your delivery.

[ThomasinaandSeptimus]

One further thing - with the babies getting bigger if anything you might find the pain lessen as the babies might start to stabilise the pelvis. I certainly found the last weeks less painful once the baby had dropped lower into my pelvis.

[Starface]

I had it. In my second and third pregnancies. Worse in third. Not as bad as you by the sounds of things. Co codamol helped. As did pacing my activity. And the belt. And Pilates videos.zg But basically you just have to wait it out. It does go pretty quickly but be aware your joints are still loose for quite a while. I know it is grim but really 8 weeks isn't long in the grand scheme of things. I had it from 16 weeks in my last pregnancy and the whole thing was basically horrible. It is one reason I am not having another baby to be honest. But the babies will be worth it. Solidarity!

[ballsdeep]

I feel for you. I have it atm and am in horrific pain. Am housebound and on crutches. If I want to go shopping its in a wheelchair. I feel so redundant because I csnt do anything. I walk around tesco on my crutches for ten minutes and I feel like my whole pelvis area will fall apart. Ice been signed off work from 25 weeks

[BrandoraPaithwaite]

I had it. It was agony for the last couple of months of the pregnancy. It completely went the second dd was born though, and no problems since. It will pass.

[blitzen]

I had this so bad too. It was like being stabbed when I tried to turn over in bed. I second the belt suggestion. Think mine was under a tenner from Amazon. If you search for pelvic support belt or similar you will find one. X

[MrsEG]

Thanks for sharing everyone and sorry to hear you’re suffering! @ThomasinaandSeptimus I am trying to do things like that, dinner with friends or DH just to get me out of the house once a week at least!
So pleased to hear it mostly went away once babies came along too. That alone will keep me going I think!

[123456kent]

Thread hijacking here, sorry... does anyone have a link to a good belt they have please? I have one that is useless, just ends up rolled up around my waist cutting off my blood supply.
Trying to avoid ending up like poor OP and PPs - sounds really awful. At the moment I am in pain but it’s mild (20 weeks).

[BarleyG]

I’ve been suffering from PGP/SPD for the last 8 weeks and was in so much pain I could barely walk. Last week I had acupuncture and I have been totally pain free ever since. I would definitely recommend it.

[MrsEG]

@BarleyG Oh fab thank you - I’ll look in to it!